In partnership with GovLoop, the Knowledge Network for Government", Chris Dorobek and Emily Jarvis get smart people together in order to share ideas because they believe that the real power of information comes when it is shared.

This event was the ninth edition of DorobekINSIDER Live and the focus was looking at the progress agencies have made in moving to the cloud.

Some of the key points addressed include:

Why Does Cloud Matter?

Sweeney: I've read so many cases studies
that feature government at all levels using cloud to improve their
efficiency and speed. Take the Recovery Accountability and Transparency
Board for example. Cloud is important because it shows the shift from
products to services.

Jackson: What is really different about cloud computing is it changes the way we deal with IT. Cloud is:

Agile: the cloud should be reevaluated and changed every day, week, month or year. It is not a static product.

Efficient: the cloud is efficient because you can apply parallel processes.

Global: by nature cloud is a global enterprise.

"Cloud computing is a new business model. It is driving
the cultural change in government to a service management mindset," said
Jackson. "CIOs have to not only have the technical capabilities but
they also have to know how to manage financial disclosures in the cloud,
know how to change to a new provider and re-deploy data to the cloud.
Federal CIOs Vivek Kundra and Steven VanRoekel with their Cloud First
and Share First policies are really driving the need to reduce costs and
increase efficiency in the cloud. It is not about if agencies will go
to the cloud, but how."

Do more with less with cloud?

Sweeney: Do more with nothing is more
like it. The do more with less saying has been the mantra for IT shops
for a long time. But by using cloud IT departments don't have to
reinvent the wheel each time. So it saves time and money.

Jackson: I think although time and money
are huge factors the other big development with cloud was seeing how it
impacts the mission. How by using cloud services agencies could show
increased deliverables on mission. The issue comes in the form of
procurement. How do you change the policies on IT contracts? This is all
new and the policies need to be changed and modified. Cloud procurement
is a 180 degree shift from the waterfall acquisition approach.

Sweeney: New providers are coming into
the market and taking major contracts away from traditional providers.
The question is now, how can we become more rapid while still be secure?
Agencies that are using cloud to build-up that security are the real
winners.

Changing role of the CIO?

Sweeney: If CIOs don't evolve and embrace
cloud technologies their employees will go around them. Take the
Dropbox example. Dropbox is technically verboten at agencies, but all
the employees use it. They want to be able to access documents anywhere
on any device. People say if IT won't provide me with a solution I will
go around you. That is dangerous for an organization.

Jackson: This phenomenon is called shadow
IT. People have a real desire to solve problems and if policies are too
slow, they find alternative ways to get it done.